Super Gene Hunting Ground

Yang Xiao collected the Beast Soul and didn’t bother to check the scene thoroughly for any items, immediately fleeing away.

Where to escape?

Yang Xiao was feeling a surge of panic within.

He hadn’t anticipated Long Aotian developing a killing intent towards him so quickly. This morning, they parted ways with Long Aotian claiming he disdained to kill Yang Xiao, yet by evening, he sent Xue Gang and others to assassinate him.

Today, he killed Xue Gang and the others, and by tomorrow morning, Long Aotian will likely find out, surely dispatching a large group of guards to hunt him down.

But, where can he run to?

Yang Xiao thought for a moment, abruptly halting his flying body, turning around, and heading towards Dragon City.

When Long Aotian discovers the bodies of Xue Gang and the others tomorrow, he will definitely pursue along this direction. Since that’s the case, Yang Xiao should do the opposite, simply giving Long Aotian a blind spot under his nose by hiding in Dragon City.

Long Aotian will surely not expect Yang Xiao to dare remain in Dragon City.

With Dragon City being so vast, with twenty million inhabitants, hiding within it would be incredibly difficult to track.

These past few days, Yang Xiao roamed around Dragon City idly, also knowing that there are many places in the city’s suburbs where impoverished people live in large concentrations. Those places are messy and chaotic, a blend of local residents of the Great Dragon Empire and many alien immigrants.

Mingling with those people should make it relatively easy to evade pursuit.

The place where Yang Xiao fought with Xue Gang and others was in the direction of Dragon City’s East Suburb; he decided to go to the West Suburb.

Upon making the decision, Yang Xiao flew towards the West Suburb of Dragon City.

The stark contrast between Dragon City’s prosperity and the suburbs’ deprivation was evident.

Here, the genetic evolution level of the impoverished is below King Level, mainly responsible for working for the city’s elite and the wealthy, or working for some commercial organizations.

They go to work during the day and return to their homes in the suburban slums at night.

The affluent families in the city usually rest around nine o’clock in the evening, and it is at this time that those working people return from the center of Dragon City to their homes in the slums to eat, do some housework, and gather together for a chat.

For those whose work goes smoothly, they return home, make a dish, take a sip of small wine, hum a tune, with a warm family hearth.

For those whose work doesn’t go smoothly, they return home with a worried face, even quarreling with their spouse, and may even take it out on their kids, causing chaos at home.

Yang Xiao arrived at the slums in Dragon City’s West Suburb, precisely when it was bustling with noise and activity.

Yang Xiao walked casually on the crowded streets of the slums, right during the peak time for night snacks, with people swaying and various street food stalls bustling with activity.

Yang Xiao felt like he was back on Earth, like strolling on a pedestrian street.

In front of a night snack stall, an old man was with a seven or eight-year-old girl; the stall had two small tables, a few small stools, but no customers.

As Yang Xiao wandered past, he glanced around, and the little girl promptly used her crisp and endearing voice:

”Uncle, come have a bowl of sugar water. My grandpa makes really tasty sugar water.”

Under the dim light, the little girl was wearing somewhat tattered clothes, obviously not belonging to her, appearing somewhat oversized, with sleeves rolled up twice.

Her two little braids and innocent little face were relatively clean, her eyes showing some anticipation, looking at Yang Xiao.

Yang Xiao froze for a moment, then nodded.

The little girl instantly became happy, wiping the small stool with her sleeve, saying:

”Uncle, please sit.”

Yang Xiao sat down, smiled, and said:

”Little one, what kind of sugar water does your grandpa make? Is it tasty?”

”There’s Ice Sugar Dragon Pear Water and Snow Ham Ice Line, both are delicious.”

”Well, give me a bowl of each.”

”Alright, please wait a moment.”

The little girl, very pleased, immediately turned to her grandpa by the stall, saying:

”Grandpa, one bowl of Ice Sugar Dragon Pear Water, one bowl of Snow Ham Ice Line, hurry up.”

The old man chuckled and said:

”Got it, Bing’er, I heard you.”

The old man opened a large pot, scooping out a big bowl of Ice Sugar Dragon Pear Water, then waved his right hand, a stream of white icy air jetting out, enveloping the entire bowl.

Yang Xiao watched, first stunned, then subtly smiled.

This old man’s cultivation is likely at the Enhanced Gene Intermediate level, practicing Ice Element Skills, belonging to the mage type.

On Witch Star, everyone is a Genetic Evolver with some skills.

After a while, the little girl came over holding a bowl covered with ice cubes, placing it in front of Yang Xiao.

”Uncle, it’s ready.”

Yang Xiao nodded, picked up a spoon, gently breaking the ice layer above; inside, it was still icy water, not completely frozen, took a sip, the taste was cool with a slight bitterness, presumably the flavor of the so-called dragon pear fruit.

To be honest, the taste can only be considered tolerable, explaining the poor business.

Yang Xiao casually took a few sips.

The little girl looked at Yang Xiao and asked:

”Uncle, isn’t it delicious?”

Yang Xiao: ”...”

Yang Xiao couldn’t bear to discourage the little girl, nodding,

”Yes, your grandpa’s sugar water is indeed tasty.”

Yang Xiao reached out to pat the little girl’s head,

”Little sister, what’s your name?”

”I’m Zhan Bing, but everyone calls me Bing’er.”

”Alright, Zhan Bing, Bing’er, your grandpa sells ice sugar water, so you’re called Bing’er, right?”

”Hehe, uncle, you’re so silly. I’ve been called Zhan Bing for a long time, back when my grandpa wasn’t selling sugar water.”

”Ah? Haha...”

Yang Xiao was amused by Bing’er’s innocence.

The old man walked over, holding a bowl of silver ice strings and placed it in front of Yang Xiao.

”Young master, the snow frog ice string you ordered.”

Yang Xiao nodded, picked up chopsticks and grabbed a piece of ice string, putting it in his mouth and chewing it. It was crunchy, making crackling sounds, and he could feel a chill flowing into his body.

”Old man, your business isn’t doing well.”

Yang Xiao took a few bites and casually said.

The old man sighed and said:

”There’s no choice, I’m old and have no skills. I can only rely on this to barely make a living.”

Yang Xiao glanced at Bing’er and asked:

”Where are your parents?”

Upon hearing this, Bing’er’s expression changed instantly, turning silent and looking sad.

Yang Xiao paused, guessing that Bing’er’s parents were either not around or something had happened.

In this world, it’s hard for slum dwellers to even fill their stomachs, life and death are unpredictable. Maybe alive one moment, facing unexpected change the next, just like his encounter today, a guest of the Prince in the morning, a fugitive by evening.

The old man lovingly held his granddaughter, sighed, and said:

”Bing’er’s parents are gone, otherwise I wouldn’t have to come out and set up a stall to make a living. This business is really tough; there are hardly any customers all night, and you, sir, are the first one today.”

Yang Xiao nodded, took a few sips, and asked:

”Bing’er, how much?”

Upon hearing Yang Xiao offer to pay, the little girl suddenly became happy and said loudly:

”Ten crystal coins a bowl, a total of twenty crystal coins.”

Yang Xiao took out a bag from the Space Ring and grabbed a handful of crystal coins.

”Here, Bing’er, hold it with both hands.”

Bing’er paused, mechanically extended her hands, forming them into a hemisphere shape.

Yang Xiao placed a full handful of crystal coins into Bing’er’s hands.

Bing’er was surprised, looking at the at least a hundred crystal coins in her hands, she looked at Yang Xiao.

”Uncle?”

The old man was initially stunned, then said:

”Sir, you’ve given too much, twenty crystal coins is enough.”

”Old man, just take it, consider the extra as a gift for Bing’er, to buy her a new dress.”

”How can I accept this?”

Yang Xiao smiled faintly and said:

”It’s nothing, Bing’er and I are destined. By the way, is there any inn nearby where I can rest?”

The old man was taken aback and said:

”Inn? Sir, this place is a slum on the city’s outskirts, where would there be an inn?”

”I see. It’s my first time traveling to Dragon City, unfamiliar with the area. I wonder if I can still make it back to Dragon City tonight?”

Yang Xiao looked a bit anxious.

Bing’er was excitedly holding the handful of crystal coins, listening to Yang Xiao’s words, and said:

”Grandpa, why not let uncle stay at our home?”

The old man was surprised and said:

”Silly child, our home is messy and dirty, how can we invite uncle to stay?”

”But uncle can’t make it back to Dragon City now, it’s late.”

Bing’er insisted.

Yang Xiao chuckled and said:

”If it’s convenient, a worse environment is fine. I travel around, sometimes without a village or shop nearby, often spending nights in the wilderness. If possible, I can give you a hundred crystal coins as a lodging fee.”

The old man looked at Yang Xiao, a little hesitated.

Bing’er immediately shouted:

”Grandpa, let’s take uncle to our home. Dad’s room is empty, and uncle can stay there. I clean that room every day, it’s very clean.”

The old man glanced at Yang Xiao, unable to resist his granddaughter’s enthusiastic pleas, finally nodded helplessly and said:

”Alright, then we’ll keep uncle for the night.”

”Yay, great.”

Bing’er cheered excitedly. She had never received a handful of crystal coins at once. She quickly estimated there’s at least a hundred crystal coins.

That’s how kids are, you treat them well, they become close to you.

Yang Xiao handed another handful of crystal coins to Bing’er.

This time, the old man immediately stopped Yang Xiao and said:

”Sir, you’ve already given a lot. Our home isn’t a high-class inn, lodging for a night is just helping. How can we take more of your money?”

Even Bing’er didn’t take Yang Xiao’s money this time and said:

”Grandpa always says it’s right to help others without expecting return, especially since uncle just gave Bing’er so much money.”

Yang Xiao smiled and had to give up.